Glove massager

ABSTRACT

A glove which includes massage elements within each of the fingertips of the glove. Each massage element includes a housing and a motor therein for vibrating the housing. A power source, such as a conventional or rechargeable battery, may be provided for powering the motors. Each massage element is electronically connected to the power source. A securing means may be provided for securing the device to the hand of a user.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention is directed to a massager, and particularly to aglove massager that is worn by a user and that includes a plurality ofmassage elements, such that each finger of the glove has a massageelement attached thereto, to allow a user to enhance a given massagewith vibrations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention is an improvement upon battery-powered massagingdevices. Available massaging devices attach to individual fingers or arehand-held, requiring the respective users to contend with holding thedevice rather than focusing on the intended massage. The following aresome examples of existing massaging devices.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,509 is directed to a finger massage devicethat is mountable to a user's finger. U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,509 issuedfrom application Ser. No. 09/060595, and is hereby incorporated byreference into the present application. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,601,529 and5,519,292 are both directed to massage apparatuses that are mountable onthe hand and wrist of the user. U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,233 is directed to alarge fixed massage ball, and is mountable to all of the fingers of onehand. U.S. Pat. No. 3,623,481 is directed to a gum massage implementthat is mounted to the posterior side of a finger of the user, and amethod of finger massaging gums. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,918,055 and 2,350,817are both directed to hand massagers. Both of the devices depicted inthese patents are secured to the posterior side of several fingers ofthe user. These devices also impart vibratory forces to the hand of theuser, which is in turn used for massaging either the user or another.U.S. Pat. No. 2,286,089 is directed to a hand attachment means for avibrator. The reference from the French Ministry of Industry andCommerce (Ministere de L'Industrie et du Commerce), number 59.368,describes a massage glove. The device utilizes hot air to heat theglove, and the massaging vibrations imparted by the glove are caused bya piston mechanism pushing pulsations of hot air through the glove.

[0004] The above examples have numerous deficiencies and problems. Thepresent invention is directed to solving these and other problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The invention is a glove massager for securing to a hand of auser. The glove massager comprises a casing having an anterior side anda posterior side. The casing may be a glove having a plurality offingers, with each finger having a distal portion and a proximalportion. A power source securing means can be included, as can a powersource removably contained within the power source securing means. Anelectrical circuit electrically connects the power source to a pluralityof massage elements. Each massage element is attached to the anteriorside of the distal portion of one of the fingers such that each fingerhas at least one massage element. A fastening means for securing theglove to a user's hand can be provided.

[0006] The power source securing means can be water resistant, and canbe located within the casing or on the anterior or posterior side of thecasing. The power source means can include a control means forcontrolling vibration speed. In a preferred embodiment, each massageelement creates approximately 9,000 vibrations per minute when thecontrol means is set at full speed.

[0007] Each massage element has a housing and a motor therein forvibrating the housing. These housings can be water resistant, and can beremovably attached to the anterior side of the distal portion of thefingers of the casing. Each massage element housing has an anteriorsurface and a posterior surface. The anterior surface may be a convexsurface substantially similar in shape to the distal anterior portion ofa human fingertip. The posterior surface can be a concave surfaceadapted to fit a distal anterior portion of the user's finger.

[0008] Other features and advantages will become apparent with referenceto the Drawings and Detailed Description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a lateral, posterior perspective view of one embodimentof the present invention, with a wrist strap mechanism for securing thedevice to the hand and wrist of a user;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a view of the device from FIG. 1, but showing a medial,anterior perspective view, with the wrist strap shown in FIG. 1 depictedunbuckled, and showing a power source securing means on the proximal,anterior portion of the device;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the electrical elements ofthe device from FIG. 1, showing a plurality of massage elements andtheir respective positions relative to the hand of a user, and anelectrical circuit connecting a power source to each of the respectivemassage elements;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the distal end of a finger ofthe device in FIG. 1 showing a finger of a user inside the device, thelocation of an exemplary massage element relative to the finger of theuser; and,

[0013]FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of the proximal portion of thedevice in FIG. 1, showing one potential location of a power sourcesecuring means, an example of a power source, and an electrical circuitmeans within a chamber located on the anterior side of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in manydifferent forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein bedescribed in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with theunderstanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as anexemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intendedto limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodimentsillustrated.

[0015] The invention is shown generally in the FIGS. 1 through 5. As maybe seen in the FIGS., a casing 9 such as a glove 10 is adapted to housemassage elements 20, a power source 40, and an electrical circuit 30.

[0016] The casing 9 has an anterior side, shown generally in FIG. 2, anda posterior side, shown generally in FIG. 1. The casing 9 may be a glove10 having a plurality of fingers 12, including one finger 12A adapted tofit over the thumb of a user. Each finger has a distal portion and aproximal portion. The glove 10 further comprises an inner shell 13 andan outer shell 15 which when coupled together form a cavity 47 withinwhich the massage elements 20 and the electrical circuit 30 arecontained. It will be further appreciated that the casing may be amitten or any device that would substantially cover a hand.

[0017] A power source securing means 42 is included in the embodimentdepicted in FIGS. 1 through 5. The power source securing means 42secures the power source 40 proximate to the glove. The power sourcesecuring means 42 may be located within the glove 10 or external theglove 10. Furthermore, the power source securing means 42 may be locatedon the anterior or posterior side of the glove 10. Preferably, the powersource securing means 42 is a pocket 46 located on the anterior side ofthe glove exterior.

[0018] The power source 40 is water resistant and removably containedwithin the power source securing means 42. The power source 40 has aproximal end and a distal end, the distal end having a female electricalconnector 43. The power source 40 is preferably a battery pack having acover 45 and a housing 49 comprising a release mechanism 41 for openingthe housing 49. The release mechanism 41 is preferably a spring loadedlever.

[0019] The power source 40 further comprises a control means 44 such asa switch, for controlling the vibration intensity of the messagingelement 20. The power source 40 is coupled to the electric circuit 30,as described hereinafter, to provide power to the motor in the messagingelement. The power source 40 is depicted as having a control means 44for controlling vibration intensity.

[0020] An electrical circuit 30 located in the cavity 47 has a proximalend 35 and a distal end 36. The proximal end 35 of the electric circuit30 has a male electrical connector 34 removably connected to the femaleelectrical connector 43 located on the power source 40. The distal end36 of the electrical circuit is electrically connected, as known to oneordinarily skilled in the art, to each individual massage element 20.Alternatively, the female electrical connector 43 can be located on theproximal end of the electrical circuit 30 and the male electricalconnector 34 located on the distal end of the power source means 40.

[0021] Each individual massage element 20 is attached to the anteriorside of the distal portion of one of the fingers such that each fingerhas at least one massage element. A messaging element 20 may furthermorebe located proximate to the palm. The messaging elements 20 are locatedin the cavity 47 between the inner shell 13 and the outer shell 15. Eachmassage element 20 is electrically connected to the distal end 36 of theelectrical circuit 30, and each massage element 20 has a housing 17 anda motor therein for vibrating the housing thereby providing a massagingsensation to a massaging surface. The massaging surface may be theuser's fingers, any surface on the user, or a surface not on the user,such a second user.

[0022] The housing 17 of the massaging elements 20 has a lower housingshell 24 and an upper housing shell 26. The upper housing shell may be aconvex surface substantially similar in shape to the distal anteriorportion of a human fingertip. The lower housing shell 24 may be similarin shape to the distal anterior portion of the human fingertip. Thelower housing shell may be a concave surface adapted to fit the distalanterior portion of a human fingertip. Each massaging element 20 iswater resistant.

[0023] The motor is disposed in the housing 17 of the massaging element20 for vibrating the housing 17. Preferably, the motors are DC currentmotors powered by the power source 40, typically in the form of abattery.

[0024] The glove massager may have a fastener 51 for securing the gloveto a user's wrist or arm. A strap 50 extends substantially perpendicularto the longitudinal axis of the glove 10. Preferably, a fastener 51 isused with the strap 50 to secure the glove 10 to the user's wrist orarm. It is understood that conventional fastening means can be employedsuch as one or more snaps, a hook and loop fastener, buttons, orzippers.

[0025] While the specific embodiments have been illustrated anddescribed, numerous modifications come to mind without significantlydeparting from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protectionis only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.

We claim:
 1. A glove massager for securing to a hand of a user, theglove massager comprising: a glove having an anterior side and aposterior side, the glove having a plurality of fingers, each having adistal portion and a proximal portion; and, a plurality of massageelements, each massage element being attached to the anterior side ofthe distal portion of at least one of the fingers, and each massageelement having a housing and a motor therein for vibrating the housing.2. A glove massager for securing to a hand of a user, the glove massagercomprising: a glove having an anterior side and a posterior side, theglove having a plurality of fingers, each having a distal portion and aproximal portion; and, a plurality of massage elements, each massageelement being attached to the anterior side of the distal portion of atleast one of the fingers, and each massage element having a housing anda motor therein for vibrating the housing; and, a power source securingmeans.
 3. A glove massager for securing to a hand of a user, the glovemassager comprising: a glove having an anterior side and a posteriorside, the glove having a plurality of fingers, each having a distalportion and a proximal portion; an electrical circuit coupled to thepower source; a power source securing means; a power source removablycontained within the power source securing means; and, a plurality ofmassage elements, each massage element being attached to the anteriorside of the distal portion of the fingers such that each finger has atleast one massage element, each massage element electrically coupled tothe electrical circuit, and each massage element having a housing and amotor therein for vibrating the housing
 4. A glove massager as in any ofclaims 1, 2, or 3, wherein each massage element housing is waterresistant.
 5. A glove massager as in any of claims 1, 2, or 3, whereineach massage element is removably attached to the anterior side of thedistal portion of one of the fingers.
 6. A glove massager as in any ofclaims 1, 2, or 3, wherein each massage element housing has a convexsurface and a concave surface, the concave surface being adapted to fita distal anterior portion of the user's finger, and the convex surfacebeing substantially similar in shape to the distal anterior portion of ahuman fingertip.
 7. A glove massager as in either of claims 2 or 3,wherein the power source securing means is water resistant.
 8. A glovemassager as in either of claims 2 or 3, wherein the power sourcesecuring means is located within the glove.
 9. A glove massager as ineither of claims 2 or 3, wherein the power source securing means islocated on the posterior side of the glove, not within the fingers. 10.A glove massager as in either of claims 2 or 3, wherein the power sourcesecuring means is a pocket located on the anterior side of the glove.11. A glove massager as in either of claims 2 or 3, wherein the powersource securing means is located on the anterior side of the glove notwithin the fingers.
 12. A glove massager as in any of claims 1, 2, or 3,further comprising a control means for controlling vibration speed. 13.A glove massager as in any of claims 1, 2, or 3, further comprising acavity, the cavity having an outer shell and an inner shell wherein thecavity contains the electrical circuit.
 14. A glove massager as in anyof claims 1, 2, or 3, further comprising a fastener for securing theglove to a user's hand.
 15. The glove massager of claim 3, wherein thepower source is detachable from the electrical circuit.
 16. The glovemassager of claim 3, wherein the power source comprises a cover hingedlyattached to a body and a release mechanism, the release mechanism fordetaching the cover from the release mechanism.
 17. The glove massagerof claim 16, wherein the release mechanism is a spring loaded lever. 18.A massaging apparatus for securing to a hand of a user, the massagingapparatus comprising: a casing for receiving a hand having an anteriorside and a posterior side, the casing having a proximate end and adistal end; a power source securing means; a power source removablycontained within the power source securing means; an electrical circuitcoupled to the power source; and a plurality of massaging elements, amassaging element being attached to a location proximate the palm and tothe distal portion of the casing such that each massage element iselectrically coupled to the electrical circuit, and each massagingelement has a housing and a motor therein for vibrating the housing. 19.A massaging apparatus of claim 18, wherein the casing is a glove havinga plurality of fingers, each having a distal portion and a proximateportion.
 20. A massaging apparatus of claim 19, wherein each finger hasat least one massaging element.
 21. A massaging apparatus as in any ofclaims 19, each massage element housing having a convex surface and aconcave surface, the concave surface being adapted to fit a distalanterior portion of the user's finger, and the convex surface beingsubstantially similar in shape to the distal anterior portion of a humanfingertip.
 22. A massaging apparatus as in any of claims 19, whereineach massage element is removably attached to the anterior side of thedistal portion of one of the fingers.
 23. A massaging apparatus of claim18, wherein each massaging element is water resistant.
 24. A massagingapparatus of claim 18, wherein the casing is a mitten.
 25. A massagingapparatus of claim 18, wherein the power source securing means is waterresistant.
 26. A massaging apparatus of claim 18, wherein the powersource securing means is located within the casing.
 27. A massagingapparatus claim 18, wherein the power source securing means is locatedon the posterior side of the casing.
 28. A massaging apparatus of claim18, wherein the power source securing means is a pocket located on theanterior side of the casing.
 29. A massaging apparatus of claim 18,wherein the power source securing means is located on the anterior sideof the casing not within the fingers.
 30. A massaging apparatus of claim18, further comprising a control means for controlling vibration speed.31. A massaging apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a cavity, thecavity having an outer shell and an inner shell wherein the cavitycontains the electrical circuit.
 32. A massaging apparatus of claim 18,further comprising a fastener for securing the casing to a user's hand.33. The massaging apparatus of claim 18, wherein the power source isdetachable from the electrical circuit.
 34. The massaging apparatus ofclaim 18, wherein the power source comprises a cover hingedly attachedto a body and a release mechanism, the release mechanism for detachingthe cover from the release mechanism.
 35. The massaging apparatus ofclaim 34, wherein the release mechanism is a spring loaded lever.